LAS VEGAS, June 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — WasteExpo 2016 — At this week’s WasteExpo2016, Mack Trucks, one of North America’s largest manufacturers of heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, engines and transmissions, will demonstrate its continued commitment to product excellence by showcasing a highly advanced powertrain innovation, Wrightspeed’s The Route™. Designed as a replacement for conventional piston engine and transmission systems, the award-winning Route is a range-extended electric vehicle powertrain that provides unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs for today’s refuse, delivery and mass transit markets. Wrightspeed counts FedEx, Ratto Group and New Zealand Bus as early Route customers.

Today’s refuse vehicle market is constantly looking for more efficient powertrain technology that performs on par with existing vehicle propulsion strategies while improving the environmental impact. WasteExpo attendees will have the opportunity to see one of these promising breakthroughs in Mack booth no. 1327: a Mack® LR® model refuse collection truck chassis retrofitted with the Route™ 1000 powertrain.

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The future of garbage? Trucks that clean the air and your dumpster. At WasteExpo 2016, Mack Trucks showcases its LR(R) model refuse collection garbage trucks chassis, retrofitted with Wrightspeed’s the Route(TM) 1000 powertrain.

“At Mack, our focus is delivering the best performing and most efficient products to our customers,” said Curtis Dorwart, Mack’s refuse product manager. “While our LR model trucks are already providing our refuse customers with the finest driving and operating experience, we continually investigate technologies that advance our offerings. Wrightspeed’s The Route is a very interesting advanced technology that we’re pleased to showcase during WasteExpo.”

Capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 66,000 pounds up grades as steep as 40 percent, the Route provides the refuse market with the power-to-weight ratio needed for collection duty cycles. Outfitted with 730kW regenerative braking power, as well as an 80kW, fuel agnostic Fulcrum™ Turbine Generator that charges on-board batteries, the powertrain kit gives the vehicles unlimited range with refueling. The company’s patented Geared Traction Drive™ (GTD) digitally drives each rear wheel of the vehicle, providing the slip control needed to operate in tough road conditions.

“Mack has long led the industry as a powertrain pioneer in its own right, and as one that actively seeks out other powertrain innovators,” said Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed. “Highlighting The Route powertrain at WasteExpo signifies Mack’s commitment to investigating the best performing and most efficient technologies with their complete lineup of refuse and recycling trucks. We thank them for their generosity in hosting us and their continued efforts on behalf of the industry.”

About Wrightspeed Inc.

Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed’s powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™ was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.